3 At Sea

Jake turn his gaze away from the land and his thoughts to fishing. Sky and sea had muddled together. Even Jake's sharp eye couldn't make out where one ended and the other began. He'd packed some food and left home early, dressed for the morning cold. Now he stood up, stiff and yawning, and tugged his jumper over his head. He noticed someting bob in the water a few yards off. It moved towards him and spun around. Jake looked again. It was the head of a girl - a girl with red hair swirling around her shoulders. She saw Jake and started, as if paralyzed, like a night creature caught in a beam of torchlight. Jake gasped. A shiver of shock ran through his body. He knew this girls. He'd seen her before - those green eyes, narrow as blades of willow, he'd he'd knew them anywhere.

The girl put her head to one side and scowled. Then she disappeared beneath the water with a splash. Jake blushed, suddenly fling awkward, alone with her, way out from shore. He'd always kept away from girls at school, but there was something bold about his one he liked. Must be a strong swimmer, he thought, to be so far out. How come he'd never seen her in town? They didn't get many visitors at that time of year, not swimmers like her... Suddenly she appeared, rising with the swell beside the boat and then, ad if testing him, swam underneath and emerged on the other side.

"What's your name?" she asked, tipping her head slightly towards him to catch his reply. Jake noticed a quiver in her voice, almost as if she were singing and speaking at once. He hesitated. After the silent days since Charley's funeral her simple question took him by surprise. "Jake," he said. The girl questioned. He replied his name, a little louder. "Jake. What's your name?" He couldn't quite bring himself to look her in the eye.

"Cal."

"You are a long way out." Jake sat down and fiddled with his fishing rob, pretending to be busy. The girl weaved back and forth a little way off, watching him. what's she doing here? Jake wondered. She seemed to be alone. There is no one else in the water and he hadn't seen anybody waiting abound on the beach. It was a long swim back to shore - Jake knew he couldn't managed it from there, even if the water was calm. The girl swam up and gripped the side of the boat. It reeled hard and Jake almost lost his balance.

"Cold day for a swim," he said, steadying himself. He picked up a net and ran it through his fingers. She smiled and shrugged.

Now he noticed the grey sky darken. Jake smelt rain in the air. That's odd, he thought, there'd been no warning of it. Then, as if a silent curse had been uttered, the mood of the sea changed. It heaved and shuddered, shaking up choppy waves that begin to slap the boat. The breeze quickly became a blustery squall.

The girl disappeared beneath the water and then broke through by the stern.

"I wouldn't stay out long in this," said Jack. He cast an eye at the flinty sky. "The weather's up to something. Reckon I'll get back. Shall I - do you want to climb in?' But Cal shocked her head.

"I can't." Her voice was almost lost on the wind. The sea rocked about her, spitting crests of pearly foam into the air. "Why not?" said Jack, growing alarmed as a shroud of threatening cloud tumbled towards them. He had never known the bay turn rough so fast. Thunder growled. Then rain fall, suddenly and hard. "Come on, grab this..." He swung out an oar. Once more the girl shook her head, then to Jake's astonishment she plunged beneath the water again. Jake scrambled to one side of the slippery boat to the other, searching for a glimpse of her. It wasn't safe in the water - where was she? He kicked off his trainers, ready to dive in, but her coppery head was nowhere to bee seen. The sea turned around the boat and spun it like a leaf in a gutter.

"Hey!" Jake shouted, tumbling off balance. He gripped the rowlock and pulled himself up. The sky of rain maid one water with the sea. He had to find her...

Lightning stabbed the waves. They flashed for a moment like molten foil. There she was, thrusting her thin white arms out to him - just beyond his reach. "I'm coming!" he shouted. Jake stood to dive just as a huge swell tipped the boat over and threw him into the whirlpool. With an almighty crack the boat crashed on top of him, splinters of timber exploded in all directions. Jake was dragged down. Something smashed into his ankle, pain shot through his leg. Then he blacked out.